'Irregular bedtimes can alter the development of your child's brain'

'Irregular bedtimes can alter the development of your child's brain'

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Research: scientists at UCL found that both girls and boys who had differing bedtimes scored worse in mental tasks than children with a rigid schedule for sleep (Picture: Steve Cadman/Flickr)

Steve Cadman/Flickr

Children who have irregular bedtimes could suffer from disrupted brain development, according to research.

University College London scientists found that both girls and boys who had differing bedtimes scored worse in mental tasks than children with a rigid schedule for sleep.

The study of intelligence and sleeping habits found the cognitive functioning of children who had no set bedtimes at an early age became worse as they got older.

Overall, varied bedtimes affected girls more than boys in the tests.

The research found that although the differences were slight, there was a cumulative effect as the child aged and failing to have a good sleep hygiene routine could disrupt early neurological development.

The biggest effect was on three-year-olds, who researchers reported functioned worse on reading, maths and spatial tests.

The study also found that a disrupted body clock or sleep deprivation affected the brain’s learning and information-retention capabilities.

Although the hour that a child went to bed was of little of no effect, the research found it was the regimented timings that were key.

Scientists used information in the UK Millennium Cohort Study, a record of children either in or approaching their teens.

Amanda Sacker, professor of lifecourse studies at UCL, said: “Age three seems to be where you see the largest effect and that is a concern.

“If a child is having irregular bedtimes at a young age, they’re not synthesising all the information around them at that age, and they’ve got a harder job to do when they are older.